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UNC-CH SERIALS DEPARTMENT
VOLUME 98 - NUMBER 26
DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA - SATURDAY, JULY 6, 2019
TELEPHONE 919-682-2913
PRICE 50 CENTS
Ambassador Patrick Gaspard
COMMENTARY: Running for Exposure
By Julianne Malveaux, NNPA Newswire Contributor
Twenty-four people are running for the Democratic nomination for President of the United States. From where I sit, at least half of them
are only running for exposure, for the Vice-Presidential nod, for Cabinet secretary, to push a platform, or to simply be seen. Their ambitions
have made the process turgid and impractical, often amusing and only sometimes illuminating.
The candidates do best when they have time to expound on their ideas, as they did at Rev. William Barber’s Poor People’s Congress
on June 17, or at Rev. Jesse Jackson’s National Rainbow Coalition International Convention June 28-July 2. Barber’s meeting drew nine
candidates, each who had the opportunity to give a four-minute speech and 26 minutes of questioning from Rev. Barber.
The Rainbow PUSH gathering drew seven candidates who had about 15 minutes to address those assembled. Vice-President Biden,
Senator Elizabeth Warren, and Mayors Bill Di Blasio and Pete Buttigieg had press conferences with Rev. Jackson. Senators Harris and
Booker did not attend Rev. Jackson’s meeting, although Harris did get to Rev. Barber’s and pledged to support a debate dedicated to poverty
issues. With a crowded field and calendar, it is clear that everybody can’t be everywhere, but I’d like the two African American Senators to
explain why they snubbed Rev Jackson, a leader who provided the very foundation for them to run for office.
Memo to Andrew Yang, Marianne Williamson, Montana Governor Steve Bullock, Miramar, FL Mayor Wayne Messam, and a few others,
what are you running for, really? You’ve got ideas - doesn’t everybody? But you have about as good a chance of being President as the
proverbial snowball has a chance of surviving Hades. You’ve raised a little money, and you’ve got a skeleton staff. Why not sit home and
write op-eds about your good ideas? Somebody will publish them.
Memo to California Congressman Eric Swalwell - age baiting is neither thoughtful nor cute. It’s fine to tell Vice-President Joe Biden to
“pass the torch” once, but to say it more than once seems like badgering and makes you look like a junior high school heckler. Biden should
have come back at you for hedging your bets. You told the San Francisco Chronicle that, while you are running for President, you haven’t
closed the door on keeping your congressional seat. You have until December to decide, you say. Do us all a favor. Decide now!
Memo to Beto O’Rourke. Just like the South lost the Civil War, you lost the Senate race in 2018. Losing a statewide competition is hardly
the foundation for a successful Presidential run. You were a nondescript Congressman that sponsored little legislation, a Democratic sensation
mainly because you came close to toppling the odious Senator Cruz. But what do you stand for other than white male exuberance, jumping
up on tables with the wild hand gestures? Run for Senate in Texas again. Maybe you’d win and really make a difference!
Memo to Julian Castro. Don’t patronize your own community by speaking Spanish poorly. I think Latino people care more about your
policy positions than your Spanish language ability. Good move in going after Beto O’Rourke in the debates on immigration issues. Wrong
move in missing the Poor People’s Congress after confirming that you’d be there.
Memo to Vice-President Biden. You’re better than your act, better than your debate performance, better than your wandering, long-winded
speeches. I know you’ve been doing you for a long time, and the wordy gaffes seem to work for you. Actually, they don’t. There’s nothing
wrong with saying you made a mistake, nothing wrong with apologizing to Anita Hill, which you haven’t done yet, nothing wrong with
talking about busing unapologetically. If you don’t get your act together, Elizabeth Warren and Kamala Harris are going to make mincemeat
out ofyou.
It’s only July, seven long months before the February 3, 2020, Iowa caucuses. Only July, eight months before the delegate-rich Super
Tuesday, March 3, 2020, when at least 15 states, including Texas and California, will hold primaries, and 1321 Democratic delegates will be
up for grabs. It’s the beginning of July, and by month’s end, there will be yet another debate with 20 people on the stage in two clumps. We
won’t learn much at these debates, because they are less debate than guided conversation with interruptions and outbursts.
What we must know, even at this point in July, is that all twenty-four candidates aren’t running for President. At least half of them are
simply running for exposure, and most of the nation is not paying attention. Can you name all 24 Candidates without the
use of Google? Probably not.
Patrick Gaspard to
Receive Prestigious
NAACP Spingarn
Medal
BALTIMORE - The National Association for the
Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the nation’s
foremost civil rights organization, has announced that
Ambassador Patrick Gaspard will be awarded the
prestigious Spingam Medal during the NAACP’s 110 th
Annual Convention taking place in Detroit, Michigan on
July 24.
The award recognizes Gaspard’s lifelong commitment
to equality and civil rights. Gaspard, a native of the
Democratic Republic of Congo, moved with his parents
to the United States when he was three years old. He
served as political director for President Barack Obama
in the White House and as the Executive Director of the
Democratic National Committee, overseeing the party
committee’s efforts to re-elect President Obama. In
2013, President Obama nominated Gaspard to the post of
United States ambassador to South Africa. He worked to
strengthen civil society and worked in partnership with
the South African'government to develop the country’s
healthcare infrastructure and to support innovations
in local governance. He also worked to connect South
African entrepreneurs to United States markets; develop
clean, renewable, and efficient energy technologies; and
to end wildlife trafficking.
“Patrick Gaspard is a global champion for civil and
human rights. His contributions to campaigns to end
police brutality, improve access to affordable health care,
and increase dignity for working families is unparalleled,”
said Derrick Johnson, NAACP President and CEO. For
over 100 years, we have honored leaders who have served
as pillars in the fight for justice and this year’s selection
of the Patrick Gaspard is no exception.”
“The NAACP has been a beacon and an inspiration to
me my entire life; Its leaders blazed the trails we now
walk, and helped make my career, and the careers of
countless other organizers and activists, possible,” said
Gaspard. “The previous recipients of this incredible
honor are among my greatest heroes, who showed us
what dedication and the courage of our convictions could
achieve. To be in their company is beyond humbling. I
am enormously grateful for this recognition, and will do
all that I can to try, now and in the years to come, to live
up to its promise.”
“Ambassador Gaspard’s service within the Labor
Movement as well as his tenure as a member of the
Obama administration has always inured to the benefit
of all Americans,” said Leon W. Russell, NAACP
Chairman, National Board of Directors. “His service
in the diplomatic corps as Ambassador to South Africa
during a challenging period of that nation’s development
was stellar.”
The NAACP Spingarn award was established in 1914
by the late Joel E. Spingarn then Chairman of the NAACP
Board of Directors. It was given annually until his death
in 1939. The medal is awarded “for the highest or noblest
achievement by a living African American during the
preceding year or years.” A fund to continue the award
was set up by his will, thus, the NAACP has continued
to present this award. Previous recipients of this award
include: Mrs. Daisy Bates (Little Rock Nine), Jesse L.
Jackson, Myrlie Evers-Williams, Earl G. Graves Sr.,
Oprah Winfrey, Cecily Tyson, Harry Belafonte, Sidney
Poitier and the Honorable Nathaniel Jones. Tickets to
the Spingarn Dinner can be purchased on the NAACP
Convention website here.
ABOUT NAACP 110TH CONVENTION:
Other highlights will include a Presidential Candidates
Forum, a legislative session, a CEO Roundtable, LGBTQ
workshop plus the highly anticipated NAACP Experience
retail expo and diversity career fair. More information
about the 110 th Annual NAACP National Convention,
including a detailed schedule of events may be found
by visiting naacpconvention.org. Media interested in
covering the event should apply for press credentials here.
Founded in 1909, the NAACP is the nation’s oldest and
largest nonpartisan civil rights organization. Its members
throughout the United States and the world are the
premier advocates for civil rights in their communities.
You can read more about the NAACP’s work and our
six “Game Changer” issue areas here.
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